rhythmic

[ rith-mik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to rhythm; showing a pattern of repeated sound or movement:

   I could tell by his slow, rhythmic breathing that he had fallen asleep.

2. Music. relating to or emphasizing a regular pattern of strong and weak beats:

   A strong, rhythmic violin accompaniment adds to the energy of the powerful solo voice.

3. characterized by measured or flowing movement, as in dancing:

   Her long-form figure skating routine showcased a graceful, rhythmic body motion, like the rolling waves of the sea.

4. relating to a person’s ability to recognize and produce a beat or pattern of measured movement, as in music or dance:

   He has a strong rhythmic sense, as shown by his complicated drum work on this album.

5. Art, Literature. using or showing the patterned repetition of a motif or formal element in the same or a modified form:

   Ancient storytelling used memory aids such as rhythmic parallel structures and closely related key words.

6. Prosody. relating to or making effective use of poetic meter:

   The quirky and humorous poems in this collection are a mixture of free and rhythmic lines.

7. Theater, Movies. having a measured or patterned effect of movement, tension, and emotion, as created by an alternation between dialogue and description, shorter and longer scenes or sentences, etc.:

   With a masterful knack for rhythmic scene pacing, she explores a series of topics in this trio of short films about growing up.

noun

1. rhythmics ( def ).

rhythmic

/ rɪðˈmɪsɪtɪ; ˈrɪðmɪkəl; ˈrɪðmɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by rhythm, as in movement or sound; metrical, periodic, or regularly recurring

Derived Forms

• rhythmicity, noun
• ˈrhythmically, adverb

Other Words From

• rhyth·mi·cal·ly adverb
• hy·per·rhyth·mic adjective
• non·rhyth·mic adjective
• sem·i·rhyth·mic adjective
• un·rhyth·mic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhythmic¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin rhythmicus, from Greek rhythmikós; rhythm ( def ), -ic ( def )

Example Sentences

Syllables were repeated and were rhythmic, both common features of babbling.

From Science News

You know, there’s some weirdness in the rhythmic sense of it.

From MIT Technology Review

The film, with its rhythmic, conversational numbers, progresses as if it’s a household concert, with Shaun on piano, trumpet or guitar, and Abigail, in bruised and buoyant vocals, singing lead.

From Washington Post

The rhythmic beating of footsteps on a treadmill was a noise offender—the sound could be detected on sonar from miles away—so we shut it off unless we were in friendly waters where we weren’t concerned with counter-detection.

From Nautilus

Typically, the rhythmic accompaniment for dancers was anchored by two or more conga players, or congueros.

From Washington Post

Swift is a rhythmic and melodic kleptomaniac, and I mean that as the highest of compliments.

From The Daily Beast

I point out the phrase “more distinct separation,” and I suggest that the purpose of the semicolon is at least in part rhythmic.

From The Daily Beast

A link of pitches perhaps, an a-rhythmic phrase that will lead to a strong subterranean pulsation.

From The Daily Beast

His focus on the grim and the disturbing is beautiful, and becomes rhythmic, atmospheric, and addictive.

From The Daily Beast

The soft cry from her quivering lips meets the rhythmic beat of our rattles: the battle cry of her living nightmare.

From The Daily Beast

An approach to æsthetic pleasure is seen in the responses to rhythmic series of sounds.

From Project Gutenberg

Igelstrud took hold of the heart with his hand and made rhythmic pressure upon it.

From Project Gutenberg

The feet came on; slow, rhythmic, marching without zest or pause or break, perfection without snap.

From Project Gutenberg

They came with that ghastly mechanical rhythmic tread, eyes staring, backs burdened.

From Project Gutenberg

There is often a rhythmic alteration of intensity of symptoms that corresponds more or less to the physiological rhythm of life.

From Project Gutenberg